We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful John Edward McGraw. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with John below.

Hi John, thanks for joining us today. Any advice for creating a more inclusive workplace?

In my work with businesses and international professionals, I’ve learned that inclusion doesn’t just happen because people have good intentions. It happens when communication is adapted to reflect cultural differences and varied communication styles.

One of the most common issues I see is that leaders assume they’re being clear, but their message isn’t landing. That’s why I developed two practical frameworks: LEAP and SPEAK.

LEAP gives a systematic way to approach unfamiliar situations when someone behaves in a way that doesn’t match our expectations, which can happen frequently when working across cultures. LEAP includes: Let go of assumptions (avoid judging something you don’t understand); Engage with curiosity (ask open questions to understand better); Assess possibilities (check with more than one source); and Perform with insight (act on your new knowledge). It’s a great mindset tool to keep us open and curious rather than judgmental.

SPEAK is an inclusive communications tool with easy steps to remember and apply. The steps in SPEAK are: Simplify (avoid jargon and idioms); Pause and listen (allow time to process); Enunciate and pace your speech; Ask and clarify (ensure your message is landing); and Keep respect at the centre. The last step, keep respect at the centre, is the most important one because it’s easy to get frustrated if your message isn’t getting across.

LEAP and SPEAK are tools that enable people to be inclusive in everyday interactions. When they are leveraged, everyone feels heard, understood, and able to contribute.

John, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I help leaders and organizations turn cultural differences into strategic advantages. I’m a Multicultural Workplace Expert, Inclusive Communication Specialist, and Human Connection Speaker based in Toronto. I’m also the founder of Hiyaku Coaching, an intercultural communications consultancy named after the Japanese word meaning “leap forward.”

For over 15 years, I taught English in both Japan and Canada. What I discovered along the way is that language alone doesn’t bridge cultural divides. What’s often missing is cultural fluency and communication confidence. My journey of adapting to Japanese society and reintegrating into Canadian life gave me a unique insider-outsider lens that now shapes every keynote, tool, and workshop I deliver.

Today, I work with:
• Small and mid-sized businesses that want to hire and retain international talent,
• Organizations that support culturally diverse teams, and
• International professionals seeking to adapt without losing their authentic selves.

Through keynotes, interactive workshops, and leadership coaching, I help my clients make culture visible and actionable. I use original frameworks—LEAP, SPEAK, and SHAPE—to uncover the unspoken rules of the Canadian workplace, adapt communication styles, and build inclusive workplaces where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.

As an ICF certified coach with a background in theatre and language education, I specialize in experiential learning that sparks insight and behaviour change. My work isn’t about walking on eggshells; it’s about building trust and clarity across differences so that teams can perform at their best.

I’m proud to have worked with organizations like JVS Toronto, DMZ Japan, and Waterloo’s WIN Network, and to have spoken at national events like Cannexus and storytelling competitions like Speaker Slam. One of the most rewarding parts of my work is hearing clients say, “Now I get why that interaction went sideways,” or “I finally feel confident speaking up in meetings.”

At its heart, my work is about more than visual diversity. It’s about making culture visible, naming what’s unspoken, and equipping people with the empathy and tools to bridge gaps and thrive.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to stop making assumptions, listen to the people I’m communicating with, and adjust my approach to be a more effective leader.

Early on in my teaching career in Japan, I had a student named Kenji. He was a middle-aged businessman preparing for an English exam that could open better job opportunities overseas.

The lesson that day was on multiple-choice strategy: “When in doubt choose ‘C’”. There’s no penalty for guessing so don’t leave anything blank. However, in Japanese culture guessing can feel risky and some test takers would leave questions unanswered to avoid looking foolish. So we drilled “When in doubt choose ‘C’” and I asked Kenji “Do you understand?” He nodded and said “Yes.”

However, when he handed back the practice test, several questions were left blank. I was shocked, and when I asked him why he hadn’t asked for explanations he wouldn’t say anything. I was extremely frustrated and lost my temper with him, ordering him to choose answers. It was not my proudest moment.

Later, I complained about Kenji’s behaviour to a colleague. She told me, “John, he’s Japanese and you’re his teacher. He wouldn’t disrespect to you by saying he didn’t understand. That would imply your instructions were bad.”

That hit me like a bombshell. In that moment I realized that Kenji hadn’t failed the lesson – I had. I had been so tied to my own preconceptions that I hadn’t paid attention to Kenji and his nervousness when he said “yes.” 

The worst part of it all was that Kenji never came back to the school. It was a massive failure on my part, but I learned so much from it.

From that point on, I stopped asking “Do you understand?” and started asking “Can you explain the instructions back to me?” That shift changed everything, and I learned that real inclusivity means adapting my approach to meet others halfway.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

After 15 years of teaching English in Japan and Canada, I was laid off from my role at a Toronto school during the pandemic. Enrolment plummeted as international students stopped coming, and like many others, I suddenly found myself without a job.

But in truth, I had already been feeling a growing disconnect with language teaching. While language skills matter, I knew I wanted to do more, something with deeper impact. So I used the time off to reflect and pivot. I started working with Japanese business professionals who wanted to improve their English communication. That was my first step toward building something of my own.

Launching a business for the first time was an uphill climb. I’d always worked for employers which brought steady paychecks and predictable routines. And because my previous school was unionized, I actually had the option to return at full pay with benefits when things started turning around. I delayed the decision as long as I could.

Then in 2022, my father passed away. He had been a hero to me, someone who had taught in Nigeria and stayed there to help civilians during the civil war in the 60s. Losing him gave me clarity. I asked myself: Do I want to stay in a secure but unfulfilling job, or take a risk on the path I believe in?

With the support of my wife, I chose the latter.

It wasn’t easy. But I realized that when I reach the end of my life, I don’t want to look back and regret playing it safe. I want to know I tried to make a difference by helping people bridge cultural gaps, build human connection, and thrive in diverse workplaces. That decision, to walk away from comfort and choose purpose, is what resilience looks like for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: JohnEdwardMcGraw.com
• Instagram: @JohnEdwardMcGraw
• Facebook: @JohnEdwardMcGraw
• Linkedin: JohnEdwardMcGraw
• Twitter: @TheJohnEMcGraw
• Youtube: @JohnEdwardMcGraw

Image Credits
Katrin Faridani, Jocelyn Phillips